Time-controlled switch



Myay 18., 1926.

` JDANI'AI.

TIME CONTROLLED SWITCH' Filed NOV. 17, 1925 ffy EN :wf

Lav/K )hr/vas S v tures of my invention.

Patented ay 18, 1926..

UNiTED Enr oFrlcl-Lf` JOHN Daman, oF sYRAcUsE, NEW Yoan.-

TIME-CONTR'OLLED SWITCH..

Application filed. November 17, 1925. lSerial Nvo. 69,601.

This invention relates to atime-controlled circuit breaker for electrically operated mechanism such as washing machines, centrifugal driers, baking and cooking utensils,

electric heaters and any other devices to` which the invention may be applied.

Many `of these implements are adapted to be operated for relatively short but variable periods 'of time and the vmain object of. the present invention is to provide a practical and 'eiicient circuit controller which may be easily and quickly set at will for any period of time to hold the electric circuit closed and it will automatically break the circuit at the end of such interval aly though it is evident that practically'the same device may be used for closing an o en cir cuit by simply reversing the termina s of the time-operated switch.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure l is atop plan of a time-controlled electric 'switch embodying the various fea-v Figure 2 is a sectlonal view taken on line 2 2, Figure 1, the lower portion of the clock casebeing broken away.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectlonal View taken in the plane of line 3 3, Figure 2.

Figures land 5 are detail sectional views takenv in the planes of lines it-4 .and 5-5 respectively, Figure 3.

This device is adapted to be used as an attachment to a clock or other chronometer having a case extension -l-g for receiving the various parts ofthe circuit controller, said-case being provided with a cover plate ."2- having a sight opening -3-' which f is normally closed by a transparent plate The circuit-controller forming the subjectmatter of this invention is adapted to be installed in and upon the case -1- and comprisesA a clock actuated Spindle -5- which, in this instance, may be the minute spindle of the clock and carries upon its upper end a-,dial wheel -6- having acircular dial -7'- provided with a circular row of graduations numbered, in this instance, from zero to sixty concentric with the axis ofthe spindle and indicating fractions ofan hour or minutes.

above the upper surface of the dial -7- .and adapted to be engaged by one end or a latch-lever v-9-- which is pivoted at -10- to the inner end of ahand-operated slide or plunger -11-.

The plunger -11 is reciprocally mov able in guides -12- on a supporting plate or frame -13- which is rigidly mounted within and upon the case -l-.

`The other end of the slide -llextends through an opening in vone side of the case -1- and is provided with a handle -,-11',-

Aby which it may be reciprocated.

The inner end of the latch lever .-9fis hook-shaped and, when the plunger -:11-`- is forced inwardly, is adapted to ride over of. the adjacent portion of the flange -8- of the Wheel -6- for temporarily holding the lunger against outward movement un-l til t e latch is released in a manner presenti ly described.

` vForfthis latter purpose, the flange -8- of the wheel v-6- is provided with a radial notch or slot -'14- of just sufficient circumferential length to permit the inner end ot the latch-lever -'9- to pass easilyi therethrough when the slot.-14,- is registered I yWith the latch.' i

opened by a 'retractilig spring -20, Fig

ures' 3 and 4, which also serves to retract the slide or plunger llwhen released from engagement with the flange -8-- of the time wheel -6-.

The latch-end of the lever -9- is adapted to be'presse-d into holding engagement with the liange -8- of the wheel -6- by a spring -21- while the other end is engaged by an operating member -22- by which the latch maydoe tripped at will if desired.

As shown in Figure 5V the terminals -18- are insulated' from each .other and from the frame 413--v by bushings- 23+i4 of i11sulati1rg`-1naterial..fV

the upper edge and to engage the inner face The time Wheel -6- may befrictionally or otherwise secured to the minute spindle -5-- to rotate therewith or the minute spindle -5- of the clock may as usual be frictionally connected to its driving mechamsm to permit the time wheel ti-'to be turned in either direction by hand without interfering` with its frictional rotation by vsaid spindle.

Opera/,tient Assuming now that the time wheel is operatively connected to a clock or other chronometer and thatit is desired to keep the circuit 1Q- closed for a predetermined interval of time of, say lifteen minutes from a definite time of beginning then the time wheel -6- will be set by adjusting it rotarily by hand to register the predetermined interval of time required, in this instance, ifteen minutes of the time wheel with a fixed index as o-on the transparent plate -elor other fixed part of the casing or with the latch end of the slide --l1- which is then pushed inwardly thereby causing the latch to ride over the upper edge of the adjacent portion of the flange -8- until its shou`der engages the inner face of said iange through the action of the spring 2lthereby holding the slide -llin its innermost position.

This inward move-ment of the slide -llcloses the switch lever -15- into engagement with its terminals -18- thereby closing the circuit 19- for operating a translating device such as a motor in said circuit, the motor being used to operate any mechanism Asuch as a Washing machine or any other lnechanism which it may be desired to- 0perate for a definite period of time as selected by the adjustment of the time wheel -6-.

As soon as the slide -11 and switch member -15--have been operated in the manner just previously described they will be held in their adjusted positions by engagementiof the inner end ot the latch lever -9 with the inner end of the flange 8 of the time wheel -6- against t-he action of the retracting spring -QO- which is of comparatively light tension just sufficient to return the slide -11- and switch lever -15- to their starting positions without producing excessive rictional resistance against the rotation of the time wheel.

The parts having been set in the manner described the time wheel 6 will continue to rotate in a clockwise direction indicated by arrow in Figure 3 until the slot or notch -14 registers with the latch-end ot the lever 9 vat which time the Spring J--20- will return the slide -11- to its starting position and will also open the switch member 15- for breaking the circuit atthe end of the interval of time to which the time wheel. G- has been prefor any other fractional periodot an hour or, it' desired, the time wheel may be operated by somev other part of the clock mechanism at agreater or less speed than the minute spindle in which case the numbers on the dial -7- might indicate fractional parts of any other unit of time without departing from the. spirit of this invention and. therefore, I do not wish to limit myself to the construction shown and described` I t' necessary. the latch-lever 4-9-- may be tripped at will at any interval ot' time by simply depressing the' member -22 by hand.

What I claim is:

l. Ina circuit controller of the character described, a time-actuated flanged wheel having a. s'ot through the flange, a self-retracting latch-lever operable at will into engagement with the fiange of the wheel, said vvheel'being adjustable rotarily to set the slot to different-position relatively to the latch, the time rotation ot the wheel serving to register the slot with the latch and thereby to release and permit the return of said latchI to its starting position and an electric switch closed by the movement of the latch into engagement with the wheel and opened by the refease of said latch from engagement with said Wheel, and manually operated means for tripping the latch at any period during vthe rotation of the wheel.

.2. In a circuit controller of the character described, a clock-actuated wheel having ya circular row of graduationsconcentric with its axis and indicating fractions of a unit of time, said wheel having an annular flange provided with a radial slot in one side` a self-retracting slide having a latch movable into engagement with the Hange when the slide is moved in one direction for holding the 'slide against return movement, said wheel being adjustable rotarily atv will independently ot its clock-actuation to set the slot to ditiierent positions relativel vto the latch, said slide being released by t e registration of the slot with 'the latch as the wheel is rotated by the clock, an electric switch, and means operated by the movement of the slide in reverse directions for closing and opening the switch, and means operable at will for tripping the latch and permittingthe return of the slide at any period of movement of the time wheel.

In witness whereof I have hereuntdset' my hand this 6 day of November 1925.

' JOHN DANLAL, 

